Sunshine Coast police react to Wieambilla shooting
Sunshine Coast police are in mourning following the death of two Constables in South West Queensland, with the region’s top cop expressing his heartache.
Sunshine Coast
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Sunshine Coast police along with the rest of the state are in mourning after two officers were gunned down in a cold blooded ambush on the Western Downs.
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Both Constables and two other officers came to the property to perform inquiries about missing person from New South Wales when they were met with a wall of bullets.
Two officers were able to escape with their lives however Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold died at the scene, while a neighbour was also killed.
Tactical and specialist police units descended on the quiet southwest area afterwards, with all three gunmen, including two men and a woman, shot dead about 10.30pm.
Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said in his 30 years of service he had never seen anything like the Wieambilla incident.
“We perform a dangerous job, and it’s not until incidents like this occur that the reality of our job can be different,” Superintendent Hawkins said.
“We’ve lost two colleagues, two of the police family who were simply out there doing their job on a routine call.
“It’s something we do regularly and they were met with gunfire, and as a consequence we’ve lost two good officers.”
Sunshine Coast’s top cop said he was met with an extraordinary scene on Tuesday morning after visiting a servo to refuel.
He said a member of the public came up to him, shook his hand and hugged him, offering his condolences for Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold.
Superintendent Hawkins said it was clear the murder of two young Constables had stunned the community and the Queensland Police Service.
“Every family of a police officer would be hurting as well, fearing this scenario could happen to them at any time to their loved ones,” he said.
“The local cops are definitely hurting.”
Speaking on Tuesday morning, Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the officers “paid the ultimate sacrifice” by simply doing their job.
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The Queensland Police Union has established a sanctioned remembrance fund for Constable Arnold and Constable McCrow.
For those who wish to contribute the details here:
Arnold & McCrow Remembrance Fund
BSB: 704052
Account: 100 211 820
Ref: your name
Please note QBANK members are able to use the above details and the system will update it to say 387175 S1.6
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